Christmas Decorating Tips

Are you looking for some Christmas decorating tips to give your home a little holiday magic? Christmas decorating is a special part of most families’ holiday traditions, but many people have a love/hate relationship with it. After all, the mere words “Christmas tree lights” are enough to make many a grown man weep. The good news is that Christmas decorations can be almost as fun as opening Christmas presents. These Christmas decorating tips will take the sting out of your Christmas décor rituals so everyone will want to come home for Christmas.

Planning Ahead – The Most Important Tip

For such a happy, joyous time, Christmas sure can be stressful. The shopping, the Christmas parties, the visiting in-laws – there seems to be an endless supply of upheaval. Of course, you counteract these stressful intrusions by having a plan. You make lists for your gift shopping, you book the babysitter for the nights of the parties well in advance, and you draw a map to the nearest hotel for the in-laws. You should approach your Christmas decorating the same way. Here are a few things you can do to make sure the actual decorating goes more smoothly for you:

* After Christmas, pack everything up neatly and label the boxes. Target, Wal-Mart, and Kmart all have tons of storage containers designed to organize your Christmas decorating materials. If it is too late for this Christmas, remember this tip when you’re packing up next time.

* Decide on a theme or style for your decorating. Whether your perfect Christmas décor is modern and edgy, or if an Old World Christmas is more your cup of tea, having a decoration theme in mind will help you select the right Christmas accessories.

* Before you buy a tree, a tablecloth, a door wreath, or garland for the railings, take measurements.

* Inventory what Christmas decorating materials you have before you pull out the wallet in the shops for new stuff.

Christmas Decorating Tips

With your plan in hand, you’re ready to put your Christmas decorating tips into action. These ideas should help get your creative juices flowing:
The Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree is the center of most Christmas decorating adventures, and there are a lot of different approaches you can take with your tree. A tree lovingly decorated with handmade ornaments by the kids and overflowing with ornaments gathered over decades of shared Christmases is utterly charming and works in any home. Popcorn or cranberry garland complete the look.

If you prefer to have a more formal Christmas tree, consider using only two colors to decorate it – silver and gold work well. You can use silver and gold bulbs and bows, with white Christmas lights to pull it all together. For a formal tree, a light hand with the amount of ornaments is key.

Two Christmas tree styles that pass in and out of vogue over the years are colored lights and colored trees. Colored lights tend to have regional followings, and so your feelings on these might depend on where you live. White Christmas trees (either trees that are pure white, or trees that are green with fake white “snow”) can be pulled off. If you like kitschy design, a white tree could be your crowning glory. The rule of thumb - don’t sweat it. Pick what you like.

Other Christmas Decorating Tips

These Christmas decorating accessories will make your home a winter wonderland:

* Wreaths – Christmas wreaths can be made of holly, berries, bells, bulbs or even candy. Wreaths work inside or outside, so stock up. Small wreaths look great hanging from bedroom doors.

* Garland – Put your railings to good use and wrap them in garland. Fake pine garland works best for inside – real pine needles will drop anytime someone goes up the steps.

* Lights – What could put you in the Christmas mood more than some soft, warm lighting? Battery operated candles on window sills are extremely popular at Christmas time, but these candles can be used anywhere in the house you want a warm glow. Christmas tree lights can be strung along your railings or run along the ceiling.

* Candles – Battery operated candles are great, but Christmas is also a good time for real candles. Yankee Candle has Christmas themed scented candles that will spread the Christmas cheer throughout your home.

* Windows – Don’t forget to jazz up your windows. Put the kids to work cutting out snowflakes and Christmas characters and display them in the window.

* Christmas Table – If you have a separate dining room table that you don’t use for every day meals, set the table up for Christmas dinner early in the month and leave it that way until the big day.
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Decorating Tricks to Make a Small Space Look Larger

Lots of people live in a small home, a small room, or just a small space. Some people live in a small apartment because that's all they can afford, and they're grateful for it.

Some people live in a small apartment or home because they're tired of taking care of a larger place and want to "downsize."

Others just don't want a large home. Small is beautiful! And easy, and practical, too!

But no matter what your reason for living in a small space, you'll undoubtedly have to make some compromises in your decorating, get really organized, and make some adjustments to your lifestyle in order to make everything fit and not feel cramped.

If you're looking for a cozy, intimate space, you're in luck. By using soft, snuggly upholstered pieces, dark, warm tones, and dramatic lighting, your tiny corner can become a wonderful private space.

But if you really feel the need to stretch out in your small space, you can make some decorating changes to make the area look and feel larger without moving any walls! With color, furniture arranging, and interesting lighting, your space won't feel so cramped.

See if some of our tips will work for your small space.

* Clear Out the Clutter

There's nothing that makes a small space feel cramped more than having too much stuff. Work out ways to get collections out of view, organized behind doors, table skirts, or on shelves. With things neatly arranged and out of sight, the space that is in view will feel orderly and open.

* Open the Way

With furniture and accessories blocking the view into a room and out to open spaces, a room will look cramped. By moving furniture out and away from walkways, you'll open up the space and make it feel larger. You can also choose short pieces of furniture like an ottoman, an armless, open chair, or a low table, and place large, tall pieces along a wall rather than out in the open space. If you can see the floor, the room will look larger.

* Chooser Soft, Light Hues

Whereas dark, warm colors make a space feel cozy and intimate, light, cool colors make a space feel open and airy. For optimum effect, select soft tones of blues and greens.

* Use a Monochromatic Color Scheme

Choose colors that are in the same color family and use tone-on-tone woven upholstery fabrics, textured wall finishes, delicate tonal drapery fabrics. Cool colors and delicate warm colors on most surfaces give the room a more open look.

* Coordinate Wall and Furniture Colors

Contrasting colors tend to break up a space. Pieces of furniture are less interrupting and tend to blend with the space if they're colored to match the wall color.

* Let in the Light

Any room will look larger if it's well-lit, either by natural light or artificial lighting. Get rid of heavy draperies and open up the windows to let the light of the outdoors into the space. Add more lamps or install track lighting or recessed lighting.
Here are some more things you can do to make a small space at least feel larger, even if the floor space stays the same.

* See-Through Space

By using materials that you can see through, anything beyond will appear farther away. For a tiny bathroom, I got rid of an opaque glass shower enclosure and substituted a clear, frameless one. The room is the same size looks bigger. Now we can see all the way (an extra 3 feet) to the wall at the back of the shower.

You can also use glass or lucite for tabletops. With a sturdy base of wood, stone, or metal, the space around the table will open up the view beyond.

* Reflective Surfaces

You might not like the look of a mirrored wall, but you have to admit that it always makes a room look larger. Instead, use a large framed mirror on a wall or stand an over-sized framed mirror against a wall. You'll get the same room-enlarging effect as a mirrored wall, but with more style. The space and the light will be reflected for a more open feeling.

Top a coffee table or side table with a piece of beveled plate mirror or have a chest of drawers or bureau covered with custom-cut and installed mirrors.

* Believe It or Not, Bigger Is Better!

Use a few large, simple pieces of furniture or accessories in place of several smaller pieces which would make a small space look cluttered. With open space and large blocks of color, the room will appear to be more calm and comfortable.

* Keep the Upholstery Plain

Select plain colored upholstery for furniture instead of bold plaids, stripes, or prints. Use texture for interest and stick to neutral tones if you can.

* Airy, Light Fabrics

Sheer fabrics allow light to pass through window treatments, bed skirts, table covers, and furniture slipcovers. If you want something other than plain colors, find soft floral vines or simple stripes to keep the look simple.

By following some of these simple rules about decorating a small space, your home will feel comfortable, not cramped. You'll have an intimate space that suits all your needs.
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Baby Room Designs

Today’s baby room designs are no longer simply just pink or blue but can be as individual as each newborn. Planning a nursery design is often one of the most meaningful and enjoyable interior decorating experiences. Not only is excitement in the air, it is also a unique opportunity to explore diverse options in color, shape, texture, and pattern.

The Modern Nursery
For a new twist on traditional baby room designs, many people are leaning towards a fresh modern look. This contemporary style can create a nursery with clean lines and simple colors or produce a cool, funky motif. The best place to start is with the baby furniture, since this will be the foundation of the nursery design. Then add bedding and accessories with a minimalist modern feel or maybe try a fun, retro modern print. Choose a paint color, wallpaper pattern, or wall mural which brings out your favorite hues found in the textiles and accents.
The affordable, down-to-earth crib collection from Ikea brings modern style into everyone’s price range. Their practical designs are also smart since most of the models convert into a toddler bed for even more value. Ikea also carries a nice assortment of inexpensive and stylish baby bedding to complement their contemporary cribs.
For a high style modern nursery, check out the Stokke Sleepi™ crib system. With a suggested retail price of $749 to $1,089, their convertible baby bed gives you plenty of bang for your buck. The Sleepi crib starts as a small bassinet and then transforms into a crib, toddler bed, youth bed, or two club chairs. This clean lined crib features a distinctive oval shape that is not only unique but also comfortably curvy for baby. The three modern Stokke bedding sets utilize high quality fabrics which can be mixed and matched with solid colors for custom baby room designs. They offer sheets, bumpers, and blankets in just the right size for each Sleepi bed configuration.

The Neutral Nursery
Choosing neutral colors for a baby’s bedroom will create a soothing, serene sanctuary which can easily change as the child grows and their interests change. A neutral color palette may be a necessity if the parents have chosen to keep the baby’s gender a mystery until the big day arrives. Likewise, when multiples or infants of different genders will be sharing a room, choosing neutral hues provides a happy medium and makes a nice alternative to primary colors.
Neutral color selections can expand beyond earth tones, beiges, and whites. Think about other easily adaptable shades like sage green, sherbet orange, icy blue, and buttery yellow. If an earth tone is desired, consider a rich chocolate brown or a sandy tan color to add a little warmth and depth to the nursery. Using a subtle wall color will allow for the addition of colorful bedding and accessories which can effortlessly be updated as needed. For truly calming baby room designs, continue the neutral colors from the walls to the textiles and accent pieces. At Baby Age, shoppers can sort bedding sets by color, gender, and theme. Gender neutral linens can quickly be found along with bedding in neutral color schemes such as Sweet Vanilla by Baby Martex.
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Small Kitchen Design

In this apartment kitchen, the small space is best offset in a variety of ways that are possible for all small kitchens. Notice the kitchen table and chairs... the table is small and minimalist, and the chairs are transparent which gives the illusion of having a larger space. Window space is maximized, while a mirrored backsplash also creates a larger appearance for the small countertop space. The stove is built right in to the counter
top, and wall space is utilized by a contemporary shelving unit holding spices and utensils.

In this example of a design for a small kitchen, the counter top space is best utilized with a highly functional kitchen sink, built-in stovetop, hanging utensils, and innovative use of drawer space underneath the main set of kitchen cabinets. The dark colored backsplash could be lightened to create a larger feeling space.

This modern contemporary small kitchen design goes far beyond the bounds of a traditional small kitchen. Beginning with the color scheme, this decidedly minimal, yet entirely functional small kitchen space is very 'bold' and clean. Notice how the bright work areas create a largeness along with the use of a glass bar top that doubles as an eating area.

The earthen color tones in this kitchen gently contrast and lift out the black countertop and refrigerator. Double stacked kitchen cabinets help to create a more versatile storage space, while the glass cabinet doors add to the spaciousness of the lighter colored wood cabinet doors. The high ceiling also helps to alleviate the small kitchen effect.

The white walls that so obviously contrast with the darker color of the kitchen cabinets give this small kitchen add to the perceived space, while the horizontal grain of the wood cabinets helps to spread the perception of increased size.

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Window Treatments Basics

Window treatment basics is a complicated subject, especially when faced with the countless choices that are available. The two main families of window treatments are hard and soft. Depending on the decorative and functional needs of your room, hard and soft window treatments can be used alone or in combination with each other.
Hard and Durable

Hard window treatments include blinds, shutters, screens, and specialty glass applications:

* Blinds are offered in numerous forms such as Venetians (or slat blinds), miniblinds, verticals, and woven wood. The two most fashionable trends in this category are wooden slat blinds and woven wood blinds. Wooden blinds are generally constructed of horizontal wood slats about 2” wide and come in a wide selection of stain colors. A popular variation on the wooden blind is a faux wood blind made of synthetic materials that simulate wood. Woven wood blinds consist of split wood or bamboo and are interwoven with fiber or yarn. This exotic look is becoming more mainstream and can enhance traditional or contemporary rooms by adding subtle texture.

* Shutters are a classic window treatment that is still in high demand and not likely to go out of style anytime soon. Due to their detailed installation, shutters can be one of the most expensive hard window treatments. Shutters can be built with wood or faux wood materials, and they provide excellent insulating value.

* Screens are another hard window treatment which includes Japanese-style shojis and grills. Shoji screens are wooden frames with rice paper panes that permit light to gently filter into a room while providing privacy. Shojis are suitable not only for Asian themed rooms, but also for minimalist and contemporary interiors. Grills have a long history in both Spanish and Middle Eastern window designs. These pierced or grillwork screens employ striking patterns and a variety of metallic finishes.

* Specialty glass encompasses window treatments such as stained glass, beveled glass, glass blocks, frosted glass, and liquid crystal technology. Stained glass is particularly useful for a window that has an undesirable view or for a window that is not likely to be opened on a regular basis. Custom stained glass windows can be permanently installed or a framed piece can be hung on top of an existing window. Liquid crystal technology allows a window to change from clear to opaque with the flip of a switch. These pricey modern marvels use liquid crystal droplets and electricity to achieve this effect.
The Softer Side

Soft window treatments include the use of fabric such as draperies, curtains, shades, and valances:

* Draperies are heavy fabric panels which help regulate a window’s privacy, light, and temperature. They are usually installed with a traverse rod which draws the drapes across the length of the window. A less functional yet very chic option is the fixed drapery panel which remains at the sides of the window and mainly serves to beautify the room. Curtains are very similar to draperies, but are made with lighter weight fabrics which are more casual and mostly just decorative.

* Shades are increasingly popular and include Roman shades, Austrian shades, pleated fabric shades, roller shades, and interior sun control shades. Romans are very versatile and can be flat, hobbled, or pleated. This shade softly folds horizontally as it is lifted up by a cord. Interior sun control shades began as a commercial application (you may have seen them in your favorite restaurant’s windows). Sun control shades have the unique feature of reducing glare and heat without blocking sunlight or your view of the outside.

* Valances are non-functional window treatments that adorn only the top portion of a window. The shape of valances can be fashioned into swags, cascades, or jabots. A variation on valances is the cornice top treatment. Cornices are assembled pieces of wood, metal, or foam which are custom shaped and then typically covered with fabric.


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Decorator Pillows

Decorator pillows are popular accents for any style of home decor.



Types of Decorator Pillows
There are different types and shapes of decorator pillows. Here are some of the most popular.

Knife Edge Pillows
Knife-edge pillows are not uniformly thick. Usually, the edges of a knife-edge pillow are thinner than the center of the pillow is. You can easily identify a knife-edge pillow by looking at the seams around the edges of the pillow. If there is only one seam that holds the front and the back of the pillow together, and the seam runs along the outer edge of the pillow, it's a knife-edge pillow. Keep in mind that the seam might be embellished with fringe or other trim.
This type of pillow construction is popular, because it is simple and versatile.

Box Edge Pillows
As the name suggests, these pillows are typically boxy in shape. The construction is a bit more complex than the construction of a knife-edge pillow; the shape is created using more seams. Unlike knife-edge pillows, box edge pillows are uniformly thick. Think of the box pillow as a sort of rectangular or square block of foam with an attractive covering. Round and triangular variations exist; these are similarly structured to the rectangular version.



Bolster Pillows
Bolster pillows are cylinder-shaped. They are constructed using circles of fabric on the sides, connected by a tube of fabric in the center, also called neck roll pillows or tube pillows. Bolster pillows add variety and visual interest to groupings of rectangular and square pillows.


Uses for Decorative Pillows

Use pillows to add color, texture and visual interest to the room of your choice. Change them with the seasons to enhance your décor; they are an affordable way to dress your home up for a holiday.
In the Bedroom

Pillows create the focal point for your bedroom. They add a touch of softness and luxury to the bed. Use them to express your own unique personality.
In the Living Room

You can change the whole mood of your living room using pillows. For example, using a plain leather couch as the starting point, you can make the entire room look trendy or traditional, country or contemporary, depending on the pillows you use as accents.

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Kitchen Interior Design Ideas

Kitchen Interior Design Ideas

Give these ideas a try to get your kitchen decorating project off the ground:

* For a quick and easy face lift, start with the walls. A coat of paint, some new wallpaper, a border, or some artwork all can give your kitchen a little pick me up. Choose something that complements your interior design style. For instance, if your kitchen is homey and cozy, try framing children’s pictures and hanging them on the wall instead of on the refrigerator. If your kitchen is modern, a neutral paint color for the walls creates a sleek look.

* New appliances. If your budget will allow, putting some new appliances in your kitchen can make all the difference. Ditch the old avocado colored stovetop and replace things with newer styles, like stainless steel.

* New cabinets. If your kitchen is too dark, change to a cabinet in a lighter shade of wood. Go for cabinets with glass fronts to give the room a more open appearance. If you want a French Country style for your kitchen, white wood cabinets almost single handedly create the look. If you can’t get new cabinets, try changing the door and drawer handles/knobs.

* Install new lighting. Go for lights that give a warm glow in the room overall, with more intense lighting directly over your work areas.

* If you have a small kitchen, invest in plenty of stacked storage units and consider the new, space saving appliances, like mini dishwashers that double as sinks.

* Accessorize. A few new accessories can feel like a breath of fresh air in your kitchen, and they can also help you pull your look together.

from lovetoknow.com

Your Style – Small Bathroom Designs

When it comes to expressing your self there are many ways you can do it and your home small bathroom designs should be no different. It really just comes down to themes and the way you choose to model your bathroom.

Some people just seem to accept the bathroom design or model that came with their house when they bought it. That’s fine too, but imagine if you could really spice up your bathroom and make it a place to relax as well as something that your guests would be marveling at?


As any of you who often read this blog may already know I am a firm believer of searching out and finding good bathroom designs and photos before you try anything on your own. If you do this you’ll have a clear picture as well as some good inspiration. Also by using bathroom design photos you will find great themes that you may have never even thought of.

The theme or small bathroom design that I want to talk about today is the ultra modern design. Basically society these days is moving at a rapid pace and to reflect this many families or individuals are designing high tech style bathrooms. The way you can achieve this look is just by using a lot of grey and black colored products and vanities. You can also buy and install cool high tech objects like shower heads, auto-baths, and the interesting toilets that you can find in Japan. These toilets have all sorts of high tech buttons for cleaning up after you’re done your job.

Another way to add some calm into your new high tech small bathroom designs is to have some background music. You can achieve this effect buy wiring speakers into your bathroom from your main system or you can just buy a cheap CD player and leave the calming bathroom music looping in the background as people do their thing in your new model bathroom.

source: http://www.bathroomdesignsguide.com

Interior Lighting

Understanding The Lighting System

Light can define space, substance and style. Outdoors, with the shifting sun and atmospheric conditions, light and the shadows change the appearance of things natural and man made. But in the indoors, the play of natural and artificial lighting largely determine both function and decoration.

Today lighting is considered to be a very important element of decorating scheme. The invention of the incandescent bulb in 1978 revolutionized lighting systems as it allowed light to be easily manipulated. Apart from exploiting natural light by using opaque or transparent glass walls, sky lights, large windows etc. for offices, architect work out the detailed light fittings which are conducive for a work environment. In homes, a careful selection of lights extends and enhances the aesthetics of interiors. Similarly for hotels, showrooms, museums, gardens, water bodies, individual lighting requirements are worked out. Artificial light falling from various angles and heights on different surfaces guide us to perceive various features and dimensions while creating a specific mood. With technological developments and the stress on precision lighting, a variety of lighting fixtures are readily available with options which offer manifold possibilities in terms of effect.

The choice of fitting according to the room , gets very difficult , one gets puzzled off as there are so many varieties in lights like the table lamps , spot lights , clamp lights , recessed / surface mounted lights , up lighters , halogens , incandescent bulb , pendants , fluorescent fixtures and lots of others. Once the basic idea of the space, mood, interior design, highlighting, function of work have been specified, one can then consider the basic types of lighting. Initially only the planned positions of lights need to be decided. Later, the selection of bulbs and the exact effect can be created. One should always keep in mind some of the basic rules while designing the light.

* Every activity that takes place in the interior must have lights of the right kind, intensity and the right direction.
* The eye prefers even lighting with the minimum of contrast between the brightness of the room surfaces and the lighting fixtures.
* The eye works best when the work surface is more brightly lit then the surroundings.
* The eye is stimulated by the contrast of tone and sparkle.
* When room lighting change, color changes or disappear, thus objects become more or less important in the room.
* There are three basic types of lighting which are categorized according to the intensity of the light used.

General lighting - It supplies an overall illumination in the area.

Task lighting - It supplies the required illumination for specific tasks such as reading, painting etc. It directs strong local illumination without high general illumination as required for activities carried in a particular area.

Accent lighting- It offers a decorative element to the area by highlighting the particular objects or features in the area. They are auxiliary to the general lighting and provide an added, and at times, dramatic dimensions to the scheme.

Spaces can be provided with one, two or all types of these lightings, depending upon the requirement. With different types of lighting in each room and dimmers to adjust the intensity of light, an ordinary space can be infused with much dramatic look to convey different moods to suit different times of the day.

source: www.sereneinteriors.com

Weekly Checklist for House Cleaning

Initial Author: Valorie Delp
Recent Contributors: HVLong, Mary White

The easiest way to clean your house, so that you're not embarrassed if someone drops by, is to use a weekly cleaning checklist. Post a cleaning checklist on your refrigerator or keep it next to your calendar so that you're looking at it daily and you can remember what you're supposed to do on what day. If you have children, consider giving them weekly checklists too.
Planning Your Own Weekly Checklist for House Cleaning

Creating a weekly checklist for house cleaning is simple. The advantage to creating your own is that it is perfectly suited to your needs. Here are a few things to think about before you begin:

* What needs to be cleaned daily, weekly, and less often? Prioritize according to your family's needs. If you have small children, you may well find that the floor needs to be cleaned daily. It may just stress you out to have your desk a mess. On the other hand, perhaps that top shelf can live with being dusted only once per month.
* What days are the busiest? If you volunteer or are at soccer all day on Saturdays, that's a great day to do a few minor tasks that take less than 15 minutes.
* When do I do errands? Choosing one day during the week to do errands helps you minimize the time you're spending running around. Don't clean on an errand day. Use that day to take care of household paperwork, plan menus for the week, and get your errands done!
* When do I get to rest? It's pointless to have a clean house if you can't enjoy it. Even if it means that the tippy top corner doesn't get as clean as it should--it's okay. Take the time you need regularly to refresh so you avoid burnout.

Creating Your Weekly Cleaning Checklist

Now that you've thought about your goals, start making your weekly cleaning checklist in the following manner:

1. Take a piece of paper and divide it into fourths. Your goal is to have the four following sections: daily, weekly, less often, and seasonal. Label your sections and you're ready to begin!
2. Go through each room of your house. Jot down the things that you need to get done in order for the house to look nice. Make sure to put tasks in the appropriate columns.
3. Spend no more than 5 minutes in each room. You're going to save this paper for reference later and you can always add to it.
4. Sit down with your weekly calendar and think about what days it makes sense to do which tasks. For example, if you have no where to be on Fridays, that's a great day to don sweats and pull out the vacuum cleaner and dust and vacuum. If you have volunteering on Tuesdays, that's a good day to do something less nitty gritty.
5. Finally, add into your week those things that need to be done monthly. You may set aside Saturdays to do monthly tasks, or simply get them done here and there.

If you follow your schedule most of the time, you'll have a mostly clean house and you'll find that deep cleaning goes much easier.

Find the System That Works for You

The most important aspect of posting a weekly cleaning regimen on your fridge, is doing it! If your system is too overwhelming you'll never get it done. Perhaps you need to do some things twice a month instead of weekly--that's okay. Keep shuffling chores around until you find what works for you!
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Modern Lamp Shades

from lovetoknow.com

Modern lamp shades can add the perfect contemporary touch to your interior. The good news is that there are a plethora of both table lamps and lamp shades online and in your local home design stores to give you exactly what you are looking for and at any budget, from high to low.

One of the key things to remember when looking at lamp shades is the size of the shade compared to the size of the lamp. Too big and your lamp will look silly and overpowered, too small and your lamp will look large and out of place. It is important to have exactly the right size, so take the measurements of your lamp base, from top to bottom and around, and approach your shade purchase armed with this information.

If you have a funny shaped lamp base or an unusual size, don’t be afraid to look into custom built shades. They are not terribly expensive and are worth the extra money if you plan on keeping your interior design scheme for several years. If you are more of a quick-change-style type, you might want to stick with neutrals or basics and switch out your base as your tastes change.

Modern Lamp Shades and Lamps for Your Home

Design Within Reach

Design Within Reach has a bevy of contemporary lamps that are not exactly within reach for everyone, but are exemplary of what modern design is today. Their Akari Square Lantern Table Lamp is all shade with spindly legs. It was crafted by the renowned Isamu Noguchi, who is one of the most famous furniture contemporary furniture designers in the world. His Akari lamp follows Noguchi’s vision of sculpture as practical objects in daily life. At $250.00, this lamp isn't priced for everyone, but it is definitely a timeless design that will last a lifetime.

Modernica

Designed by iconic modern furniture designer George Nelson, the Bubble Lamp is one of the most popular contemporary pieces in the world of high-end furniture. Modernica, a company out of Los Angeles, reconfigured the design of the Bubble Lamp shade to accommodate other table or floor lamp bases. The shade references the original lamp while offering a contemporary reference to traditional shades.

West Elm

Although lamp and shade come together in the Pebble Table Lamp, it is worth taking a look at the lamp shade, which is an incredible modern shape. The oblong style works beautifully with the organic shape of the base, and would also work well with other smaller round or similar oval-shaped bases.

AllModernLighting.com

With a name like AllModernLighting.com, it is easy to find the right contemporary lamp shade for your home and your budget on this website. Particularly interesting is the Sonneman Lightweights Round Shade Cover, which is long, thin and looks a bit spaceage. The designer, Robert Sonneman, was one of the pioneers of modern lighting. His pieces, such as this, are modern classics, and today he continues to create innovative pieces for home design. The Sonneman Round Shade Cover comes in white, silver, red, blue, yellow or black.

Lamps Plus

A true break with tradition requires a bold statement, such as this Flocked Black Velvet Stripe shade from Lamps Plus. This drum shade is both elegant and funky with wide black velvet stripes and an off-white fabric background. It measures 10 inches across the top and bottom and sits 8 inches high.

Anthropologie

If your taste trends toward a more whimsical style, check out Anthropologie for some stunning and unique modern lamp shades. For example, the Leafy Treetops Shade is a contemporary take on a traditional scheme with appliqued branches, boughs and birds in funky vintage fabric. It can act as a punctuation of color in an otherwise neutral room, or it works well with other pops of fabric and color for a more bohemian look.

Final Note

While finding the right size of shade for your lamp is paramount, the most important thing is to purchase something that you like, not just something that matches your interior design scheme. You have to live with the lampshade day in and day out, so shop around and purchase one at a price that you can live with. There is no point in buying a cheap shade just because it is inexpensive. You can find just about any style for any budget, so get out there and do your homework!

How to Design a Shelf Display

By Kathy Wilson
The Budget Decorator

Arranging a shelf display with interest and creativity can go a long way towards turning your hum drum accessories you already own into a dynamic display that delights your visitors, and saves you money! (No expensive Ming vase required!)

First thing you need to remember is that you are not just trying to fill shelf space, you are trying to share something about yourself or your family. Make it special! Choose items you love, or have meaning for you, and then combine them in ways that bring out their best.

When arranging a shelf or cabinet top space with accessories, one has to keep in mind that the most important thing to avoid here is boredom! This has a lot less to do with the objects you choose than how you choose to display them. Start with your main, most important object, and place it slightly off center. If its small, feel free to prop it up on books or decorative boxes to give it height and importance. Now think in terms of a triangle, with the top of your main object being the point, and work down from there.

Make sure that the items you are using fit into the scale of the shelving space… you want to steer clear of using a huge ceiling high arrangement of flowers on a tiny end table or shelf, or a tiny seashell from vacation all alone on a huge armoire shelf. Most people tend to use things that are too small for their surroundings. If you have small accessories you would like to display, but need to give them more oomph in the arrangement, try grouping them on a plate or a fabric covered box. You can also give them height by perching them atop stacked books or baskets.

Once you've chosen your objects for the space following the design principles above, now it's time to layer and soften. After placing your main focal object, work to the outer edges in layers…Add a taller background layer, a middle sized medium height layer, and your tiniest objects in the front. Keep the eye moving up and down as it purveys the arrangement from left to right for interest. Add some fabric or twisted ribbon to soften the edges of the shelf or table, to bring in color, and to highlight certain objects.

To keep an arrangement from putting the neighbors down for their afternoon nap, remember to keep a balance of harmony (things that feel like they go together, like similar colors or styles) and contrast (things that spice things up by being different…smooth against texture, round against straight line, et…) You want a bit of both in your arrangement. If your arrangement feels bland, add some contrast in color or texture. Seems too busy? Take some contrast out and add some harmony…group all like colors or textures together, use smooth textured objects, and keep the colors in the same family.

Above all, keep trying new combinations of items until you find an arrangement that works for you. Use things in unusual ways. Tuck flowers or a live plant into an arrangement that seems too static. Even professional designers will occasionally be surprised by trying things in a new way! And remember, if your arrangement still looks cluttered and lost, chances are you are trying to display too much. Develop a prop box or closet where you can keep some of your treasures, and switch them our a couple of times a year for a fresh new look without spending a dime!

Kathy Wilson is an author, columnist, and editor of The Budget Decorator, Decorating Your Small Space, and Decorating Cottage Style. For thousands of free budget decorating ideas, visit her at http://www.TheBudgetDecorator.com. Be sure to sign up for her free newsletter while you're there!

Designing for Small Spaces

From LoveToKnow Interior Design

Whether your whole apartment is sized petite or you are researching ideas for a small bathroom, a grand assortment of multiple tricks exists in designing for small spaces. Essentially, in our real estate market, space is expensive. In order to afford our own place, many of us are sizing down our dreams. Keep in mind the notion of small is relative, dependent on variables such as the amount of square footage per person, plus the layout of the home and furniture.

If you possess a small house or rooms, remember the benefits that these petite spaces provide: they are less wasteful and more cost effective. Requiring less heat, light and cleaning, a smaller space can actually be quite desirable.

Basic Designing for Small Spaces

Flexibility and versatility are the two main components in designing for small spaces. Think of the miniature interior of a car, boat or plane and imagine you are driving your smaller room. An undersized area needs to encompass a sense of control and order to enable it to maximize the best it has to offer. The ability to work and play in your space effectively is key, as a usable room feels less small.

Rather than fighting it, focus on the benefits of your smaller space. Maximize the favorable concepts found in all small spaces such as coziness, security, intimacy, charm and functionality. Find the natural character of the room you are designing and draw in the visitor. Look for extra space, such as under a sloping ceiling, and find ways to utilize these smaller treasures.

Planning is always an important component in interior design, but it is particularly crucial in designing for small spaces. Sit down with pencil and paper, not only drawing the layout of the room or floor plan, but also forming a list of the quarter's necessities. Scrutinize the potential uses of the room, the furniture requirements, storage needed and personal interests. Design a budget determining the financial means at your disposal, future changes in your life and the amount of time you plan to spend in your current home. Previewing all this information before you start designing for your smaller space makes all the difference in your success.

Structural Elements

If the cost fits into your budget, some relatively simple structural changes make a smaller home or room feel and behave larger.

• Built Ins – Nothing provides the utility of additional space better than a built in. By creating a bookcase within your wall or cabinets in your closet, the floor space is not compromised and the room offers more functionality.
• Doors – Removing or replacing doors can enhance light and airflow within small rooms. For example, re-hang a door so it swings differently, make a pocket door, install a window door or simply remove it altogether.
• Design a mid-level area - The half space in your room can be utilized to create instant square footage out of mid air. Depending on the height of your ceiling, lofts, half walls or even hanging beds will create extra mid space in a room.
• Removing all or part of a wall - Cut out an internal window between rooms or take out the wall completely, like between a master bedroom with a smaller bath.
• Maximize your closet space - The more effectively the space in your closets is utilized, the better it contains your clutter, freeing up space in the rest of your home.
• Moveable walls - Contemplate creating a sliding wall turning part of the family room into a guest room or office, balancing the need for privacy with the desire for openness.
• Look up - The ceiling is the most underused “floor space” in a room. Consider hanging artistic pieces instead of cluttering the shelves or placing storage at the ceiling level with shelving or cabinets.

Light and Airy

Maximizing light and airflow is the key to the feel of spaciousness in a room. Relatively simple changes can make a difference in enhancing light. Analyze the materials of both your furniture and decorations: metal, glass, polished wood and leather all reflect light improving the brightness of a room. Bring the outdoors in by drawing the visitor’s eyes to windows. Exploit mirrors for their ability to enhance the feeling of space and reflect light. Place a large mirror opposite a window to reflect the outdoors on the opposing wall or frame a mirror in a windowless room to give a sense of a mock window.

Avoid single overhead lighting in small spaces as it has a tendency to draw the walls in. Instead, increase the number of your light sources, placing them near walls to reflect glow. To avoid glare common in a smaller space, conceal your sources of light creatively with lampshades, directed spotlights or recessed lighting.

Furniture and Storage

When designing for small spaces, keep the furniture appropriately compact. The size of the space needs to balance with the size of its belongings. When selecting furniture, consider maximizing the utility of the piece. For example, in a small dinning room, benches around a table provide more seating than individual chairs and consume less floor space. Furniture should always work double duty in small spaces.

Storage is usually in high demand in small areas; therefore, creative storage options are always a plus. Clutter makes a room look smaller and quickly fills up an undersized space. Find ways to stash your clutter with baskets under coffee tables or tucked into storage benches.

Decorating

When decorating your small space, always focus on simplicity. Visual unity among decorations enables the room to maintain a sense of class, without becoming cluttered and closed in. The details, furnishings and decorations, should be simple and balance each other. One method of balance is to make the surfaces of the room consistent.

Paint and color easily achieve this consistency.

• Use a higher gloss paint to reflect light.
• Paint only one wall a rich color, leaving the rest neutral.
• Paint insets, such as wall nooks, bookcase backs, and between shelves, a richer color to draw the eye out of the middle of the room creating a sense of space.
• Most of the color palette of the room should be neutral adding to the sense of space. Use darker and richer colors as accents.
• Cool colors, like blue and green, are best for a smaller room, as they are distance colors.